Why was the birth of John the Baptist miraculous?
John the Baptist's birth was miraculous because his parents, Zacharias and Elizabeth, were well along in years, much as Abraham and Sarah were. That advanced age, like Abraham and Sarah's, meant the birth was miraculous in itself. During the pregnancy Zacharias was stricken dumb and could not speak.
Les explains that the setting in Luke chapter 1 is just before the birth of John the Baptist, focusing on his parents. Zacharias and Elizabeth were well along in years, much as Abraham and Sarah were, so John's birth was actually miraculous in itself. During Elizabeth's term of gestation, Zacharias, who was a priest, was stricken dumb and could not speak. When the child was about to be born, they asked Elizabeth what she was going to name him, and she said, 'John,' which was inspired. Relatives objected that no one in the family had ever been named that, so they went to the temple to check with the father. Zacharias asked for a writing tablet and wrote, 'His name is John,' as recorded in verse 63.